Adjustable table top



March 25, 1941 gs. H. GIBSON ETAL ADJUSTABLE TABLE 'roi' Filed oct.

16, 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?I l Mardi 25 1941- G. H. GIBSON ETAL ADJUSTABLE VTABLE TOP Filed Oct. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'ro/@wars Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ortica 2,236,094 ADJUSTABLE TABLE 'roP Indiana Application october 16, 1939, semi No. 299,637

5 Claims.

This invention relates to table tops and `particularly to means for shifting a leaf from a stored position into position for topextension and for returning the leaf to the stored position.

,-3 An important advantage of the invention is that the leaf may be formed in two sections so arranged Vand mounted that the lifting of one section will substantially, lautomatically shift the other section 'into position between the table top lo ends without further `action upon the part of the operator. t

A further important advantage `of the invention is that the mechanism is exceedingly Vsimple not only in operation but also in installation, givlo ing a high degree of rigidity `and insuring `positive action.

A `still further importantadvantage of the invention is that it may be incorporated in tables wherein the top has its edges terminating flush 2o with the table top skirt or apron, a style now in vogue. Furthermore, the `use of the invention permits use of Warp strips under the table top ends within the apron so that these strips may be concealed.

These and many other objects and advantages of convenience will become apparent to those versed inthe art in the following description of one form of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying `drawings in which- Fig. l is a top `plan view of a table top in extended position With the invention applied thereto;

Fig, 2, a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a similar section with the leaf raised and shifted to its usable position.

Lil-re characters `of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the particular form `of invention herein shown and described, the table top consists normally of the two end `sections I0 and II, both shiftably guided and retained by the usual slide generally design-ated by the numeral I2. These end sections I0 and II are supported vin their extended and retracted positions-by the top edges of the apron I3, the` edges of the top sections terminating flush withthe outsideface's of the apron I3 when the top sections Ill and II are in their fully retracted positions.

As indicated in thedrawings, but one slide I2 is employed and this slide Vextends longitudinally within the `apron I3 to be secured and supported by the aprons ends. `Also itis to be noted that this slide I2 is located to one side ofthe lcenter 55 line of the table, being in the present'showing at approximately one-third of the distance between the sides of the apron I3. The top sections IIJ and II are provided in the usual manner with stops I4 and I5 extending downwardly Within the apron I3 to strike the ends of the apron as. a means of limiting the outward travel of the sections.

1 Apair of transversely positioned bars I6 and I'I vare fixed in spaced apart relation between the sides: of the apron I3 to be fixed thereto by their endsrand also to extend under and be fixed to the slide bar I2. These bars I6 and I'I are equally spaced from the transverse center line of the apron I3.

A leaf section I8 having a length exceeding halfv of the transverse Width of the apron I3 is linked and hinged from its underside toward each end thereof to these bars I6 and I'I whereby the section I8 may be raised and lowered accornpanied by endwise travel in parallel relation with 'the bars I6 and I1 as Well as with the top sections Ill and II. The width of the section I8 is selected Ato be that desired to create the desired increase of table top length. In any event the width of this section I8 is slightly less than the space between the inner ends of the top sections I0 and II when those sections are each shifted to their extreme outward positions as indicated in Fig. 1.

` The hinge connections between the bars I6 and I l and the leaf I8 must be `sufficiently long so as to carry the leaf section I8 from its lower stored position,v as indicated in Fig. 2, to the upper service position as indicated in Fig, 3. In the form herein shown, avery simple hinge connection is indicated.

Apair of generally U-shaped bars or wires I9 and 2D each have outturned feet bearing on the respective bars I6 and I'I and retained there by any suitable means such as by the clips 2|. The central transverse bar between the legs of each of these hinged members bears against the underside'of the leaf section I 8 to be secured by like clips 22 attached to the section I8. Since these clipsare mounted adjacent to the wire bends, end travel is prevented. These members I9 and 20 must be properly located to permit the leaf r I8 to swing, as above indicated, from the lower position, Fig. 2, upwardly and outwardly to the position shown in Fig. `3 Where the outer end of the section I8 comes over and down on to the top edgelof the apron I3. A second leaf section 23y is hinged by its inner endito the inner end of the section I3. In the present form, two hinges 24 and 25 are employed and are of a well known type commercially obtainable and will permit the section 23 to swing over and down on to the top side of section I8, as indicated in Fig. 2, and will also permit that section 23 to be swung around away from the section I8 into the same plane therewith and bring the two ends of those sections into abutting contact so as to leave no gap therebetween. The length of this section 23 is made to be sufficient to extend from the inner end of section I8 and terminate in the present instance, flush with the outer face of the side of the apron I3. 'Ihe section 23 being hinged to and thereby carried directly by the section I8 lifts and lowers directly therewith.

To operate the invention, assuming thatthe leaf sections I8 and 23 are initially in their stored positions as indicated in Fig. 2, the end sections I0 and II are pulled to their outer extreme positions so as to uncover the folded leaf. Then the section 23 is grasped by its outer end 23a and lifted upwardly and carried around toward the dash line position as indicated in Fig. 3. In doing so, the underside of the section 23 adjacent its hinged end strikes the edge of the slide I2. This creates a fulcrum whereby continued pulling around of the section 23 lifts and pushes the section I8 upwardly and over and away from the slide I2. In fact after this section 23 travels from a vertical position, its weight is suihcient to carry automatically the section I8 on up and over to its service position and the section 23 drops accordingly into its service position. The two end sections I 0 and II are then pushed respectively against the side edges of sections I8 and 23. Preferably interengaging dowel pins 3l! -are employed respectively valong one edge each of the leaf sections I8 and 23 to enter in sockets provided in opposing top section edges, all in the usual and customary manner so as to prevent accidental shifting or lifting of the leaf sections I8 and 23.

The foregoing operation places the table top in the extended or increased length position. To restore the table top to its shortened position, the two end sections I0 and II are pulled outwardly to release the dowels 30. The short leaf section 23 is lifted by its outer end and swung upwardly and over past the vertical position, the underside of this section still fulcruming over the slide I2, whereupon the section I8 is pulled inwardly and lowered as this section 23 is allowed to swing on over downwardly. It is to be noted that the combined thickness of the leaf sections I8 and 23 together with the hinge attachments is less than the distance between the transverse bars I6 and I'I and the top edges of the apron I3 so that there will be suitable clearance to permit the end sections I0 and II to be pulled one toward the other over sections I8 and 23 when those sections are lowered to their stored positions resting on the bars I6 and I7.

Preferably a bearing plate 26 made out of metal is attached to the undersidel of the leaf section 23 adjacent its hinged end to bear against the slide member I2 so as to facilitate shifting thereover. Reference has been made to the slide I2 as the fulcrum for the member 23. It is understood of course `that the slide I2 may have a metal bar 21 extending from a side thereof which is directly contacted by the plate 25. Although the slide construction may vary, the particular construction of thel slide does not enter into the invention. Asv indicated, warp strips 28 and 29 may be applied to the undersides of the top sections I0 and II inside of the apron I3 so as to be normally concealed therein and be utilized over the entire length of the top sections in order to prevent any tendency of warping.

While we have herein shown and described our invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a table top having a shiftable top section and an apron, the combination of a pair of leaf sections, means hinging inner ends of the leaf sections together, and hinge means comprising a plurality of links supported by said apron and connecting toward each end of one of the leaf sections to give a travel of the said one leaf secsicn from below parallel with and to the level of said top section, said hinge means locating said one leaf section adjacent one side and within said apron, and a fulcrum between the center line of the table and the apron and closer to the center line than to the apron, over which fulcrum the other of said leaf sections may be swung and bear to pull up and push over said one leaf section from a stored position below said top section to a service position on said apron level with the top section.

2. In a table top structure having an apron and a shiftable top section, a leaf in two sections having one part hinged to the other on a transverse line to permit one part to fold over onto the other part for storage within said apron, a leaf 'support carried by said apron spaced below the top of the apron, link members interconnecting the under leaf section with said support to secure travel of the leaf sections parallel with the leaf support, and a fulcrum between the center line of the table and the apron and closer to the center line than to the apron against which fulcrum the over-folding leaf section is swung from the under leaf section to strike its underside thereagainst to exert a leverage tending to lift and shift the attached under-folding section.

3. In a table top structure having an apron and a shiftable top section, a leaf in two sections having one part hinged to the other on a transverse line to permit one part to fold over onto the other part for vstorage within said apron, a leaf support carried by said apron spaced below the top of the apron, link members interconnecting the under leaf section with said support to secure travel of the leaf sections parallel with the leaf support, and a fulcrum between the center line of the table and the apron and closer to the center line than to the apron against which fulcrum the over-folding leaf section is swung from the under leaf section to strike its underside thereagainst to exert a leverage tending to lift and shift the attached under-folding section, the height of said fulcrum being such that,'upon the leaf sections being unfolded into a common plane, the lfulcrum will support and maintain the overfolded section in the plane common with said top section.

4. In a table top structure having an apron and a 'shiftable top section, a leaf in two sections having one part hinged to the other on a transverse line to permit one part to fold over onto the other part for storage within said apron,

a leaf support carried by said apron spaced below the top of the apron, link members interconnecting the under leaf section with said support, to secure travel of the leaf sections parallel with the leaf support, and a fulcrum between the center line of the table and the apron and closer to the center line than to the apron against which fulcrum the over-folding leaf section is swung from the under leaf section to strike its underside thereagainst to exert a leverage tending to lift and shift the attached under-folding section, said fulcrum comprising a longitudinally disposed top section slide, said slide being disposed to that side of the table center line removed from said leaf sections when folded together.

5. In a table top construction having an apron on each side and a table top section shiftable along the apron, a leaf in two sections foldable along a transverse line, a leaf support carried by said apron for holding the folded leaf in a stored position below said top section, links hingedly connecting and aligning the under-folding leaf section on said support and arranged and proportioned to move the section parallel with `the support and guide the outer end of the underfolding leaf up over and onto said apron, and a fulcrum mounted adjacent the hinged ends of the leaf sections between the center line of the table and the apron and closer to the center line than to the apron to be in the path of the overfolding section when it is unfolded.

BERT H. GIBSON. v

LEROY C. LUNSFORD. 

